Twenty-Second Sunday After Pentecost: Seizing Opportunities for Justice and Inclusion

Once there was a man who led a very violent lifestyle.  He was arrested many times for robbing local stores and spent a lot of time in jail.  After the last time he was incarcerated, he was on his way to find somewhere to live when he found someone that he had robbed and beaten wandering the street.  When that individual saw him, he naturally turned to try to run.  The formerly incarcerated individual yelled out: "I know you have no reason to trust me, but please stop.  I am so sorry for what I did to you and all those other people I hurt."  The person who started to run turned and said angrily: "You have no idea what your robbery put me through.  Because of the money you stole and the beating I got at  your hands, I lost my family, my house, my possessions because I couldn't pay my medical bills."  He further said: "You got to live several years in a prison where you were kept warm and fed.  Here I have been out in the cold with no where to go.  My family and life are broken beyond repair.  And you want me to just talk to you as if I have no reason to be afraid?"   The man who caused all of his pain looked at him with tears in his eyes and responded: "I did all of those things to you, because when I was growing up, my father beat me so bad when I told him that I am gay that I had to go out on my own.  I didn't know who to go to, who to tell.  The local church I went to, threw me out because I wouldn't change from being gay.  So I did what ever I had to do to stay alive.  What I did was wrong.  I want to make it up to you.  I want to help you and me find a place to live.  If you will help me find the place to live, I will work for the rest of my life to pay you back as much of what you lost on my account as I can."     Later on, the guy who had been in jail all those times found someone to help him write his story down.  He sold it as a novel that became a New York best seller and every dime he got, he donated to the medical bills and livelihood of the individual he earlier terrorized.  He eventually found love in a partner and build a new life for himself.  And the man he had beaten and robbed, not only became his best friend, he became a PFLAG member and now helps the guy who beat him and other LGBT people in their struggle for equal rights. 

The little story I just wrote is a fictional story. I just wrote it as it came to my mind.  It did not actually happen that way.  But in the story is the narrative of two people put in terrible situations.  Granted one man was responsible for the others predicament, but in the end they both did the right thing.  Their stories touch our hearts and help us see that it is possible to do the right thing, to be a person for justice and to seize the moment even if we have been doing things wrong previously.  We can always change directions and become a person or a people who work for compassion, justice and equality where there previously was none of the kind.  That kind of spirit is still in people today.  It is possible to live like that.  If we are ever going to see our world of violence, prejudice and division change, we need to embrace attitudes of possibility to change how we are doing things now.

I believe that is what our readings in today's Eucharistic Liturgy is about.  In Isaiah 1: 10-18 God is challenging the people through the Prophet to recognize that they have become as inhospitable as the people in the story of Sodom and Gomorrah.  A story that is most likely fictional, not actual.  As well as one that is about hospitality, justice and a call to understand that we should treat others with respect. 

I offer the following additional thoughts about this reading with respect to our Jewish relatives. Offering sacrifices was part of their ritual as deeply religious people.  God is not telling them to discontinue their rituals as if they no longer mean anything to God when they come from the hearts of those who deeply wish to worship God.  God is asking them to learn to exercise the justice and compassion that their sacrifices suggest they are about. God is calling God's people to recognize the needs of those marginalized by society as being people with God given dignity and integrity.  An individuals worth comes not because of what they do, but who they are.  Those who are poor, widowed, pushed aside by the wealthy and powerful are also children of God who have their place in society.

As lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people we all know the experience of being pushed aside by jobs we have sought, relationships we would have liked to have had and religious communities who have told us we are dirty or disordered because of our sexual and/or gender diversity.  We are presumed to be unnatural without people seeing that our love for members of the same sex is not only natural, but very holy.  If people could understand that we should have justice and equality because we are people and not on the basis of our sexual orientation and/or gender expression/identity, what a different world we would be living in.

The Gospel for today is the story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19: 1-10.  Out in Scripture sheds some light on this well known narrative.

Luke 19:1-10 is the widely known story of Zacchaeus, the tax collector. Because of its popularity, we often see this story as quaint rather than controversial. There are a number of unusual occurrences in this passage, however. The first is the behavior of Zacchaeus. We are told in the narrative that he is “a chief tax collector and . . . rich” ( Luke 19:2).

A person of Zacchaeus’ status would not normally scamper around, climbing trees, to see anyone. In the ordinary course of events, he would have summoned Jesus to his house. That this wealthy man steps outside of the social structures of his day in order to see Jesus, says something about his character. His desire to see Jesus and his stature compels him to run ahead of the crowd and climb a tree (19:4). This inversion of normal power relationships highlights a theme we find throughout Luke: those in power must renounce their ways if they desire to be part of the realm of God. 

The second unusual thing in the narrative from Luke is the dialogue that erupts over Jesus’ visit to Zacchaeus’ house and its outcome (Luke 19:7-10). Zacchaeus is a sinner. Why? Because his occupation requires that he interact with non-Jews on a regular basis. In other words, he is ritually impure. The tax collector responds to this criticism by giving away half of his possessions to the poor. Jesus then pronounces that “salvation has come to this house” (19:9). Zacchaeus does what the Isaiah passage commands. It is interesting, though, because earlier Jesus said, “So therefore none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions” (14:33). This discrepancy between what is said and what is actually done runs throughout the Gospel of Luke. 

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are often cast as outsiders in their own communities. Like Zacchaeus, what we have to offer is overlooked or rejected because of our status. However, like Zacchaeus we must not be afraid to seek Jesus outside of the traditional social structures and assemblies. While we may not always have the power and influence Zacchaeus wielded, we can duplicate his earnestness to see and hear from God through our willingness to extend ourselves beyond what is expected. We can seek alliances and associations that pursue justice and are concerned about what the Isaiah text emphasizes as important: the care for the oppressed, the orphan and the widow.

Despite current circumstances of hatred, rejection and degradation, the LGBT community and all groups that are persecuted because of their race, gender, social status and class can choose to pursue a vision of life and justice. Like Zacchaeus, we must decide that we no longer care about what people think and choose to follow our Just God anyway. Like the prophet Isaiah, we must seek the vision of justice and equality, and diligently pursue and mediate on it. Although we may not always accomplish our goal of eliminating discrimination and inequity, through our determination and faith in what is right we can shine a light on the world’s evils. We can be a beacon of hope towards a more just future.

Another look at the narrative about Zacchaeus can be found in Speaking to the Soul from the Episcopal Cafe.

Zacchaeus must be praised. His riches were unable to keep him from the royal threshold. He should be greatly praised because his riches brought him to the threshold of the kingdom. From this, we understand that wealth is not a hindrance but a help to attaining the glory of Christ. While we possess it, we should not squander it on wild living but give it away for the sake of salvation. There is no crime in possessions, but there is crime in those who do not know how to use possessions. For the foolish, wealth is a temptation to vice, but for the wise, it is a help to virtue. Some receive an opportunity for salvation, but others acquire an obstacle of condemnation.

From Sermons 95-96 of Maximus of Turin, quoted in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: New Testament III, Luke, edited by Arthur A. Just, Jr. (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 2003). 

Realizing my blog today is already quite lengthy (but then again, my readers know that about me), I really do think that there is another idea we can take away from this. We just never know what we are going to learn from someone who is different from ourselves.   Both the Church and the LGBT communities like to talk about diversity being a strength of ours.  Yet, when we are faced with weaknesses with in that strength we are both good at making excuses as to why we are not paying attention.   We both would like to see good come from the other, yet we are so busy vilifying each other that we at times won't give each other the benefit of the doubt.  You won't get any arguments from me that the Church has been most unchristian and unfair to LGBT people.  Yet when many churches attempt to turn and begin to make amends and finally welcome LGBT people genuinely and sincerely, some LGBT just can't let go of their grudge to forgive those who have hurt them and give them the opportunity to alter their behavior.  Granted there are church communities that over and over again disappoint and hurt our communities.  I am not suggesting we trust or excuse the violent behaviors coming from communities that still are not getting the hint.  But there are other church groups that are working hard to heal those wounds that are not given enough credit and opportunity to be trusted.   At some point forgiving and giving each other another chance might just bring us all the healing and peace that our communities (both LGBT and the Church) need so much.

May we all take time to learn to see in others different than ourselves the potential to change and become welcoming, merciful and loving people working towards equality for all.  Amen.

Almighty and merciful God, it is only by your gift that your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that we may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Proper 26, Book of Common Prayer, page 235).


O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth; deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for Our Enemies, Book of Common Prayer, page 816).


Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers and privileges: Guide the people of the United States (or, of this community) in the election of officials and representatives; that, by faithful administration and wise laws, the rights of all may be protected and our nation be enabled to fulfill your purposes; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for An Election, Book of Common Prayer, page 822).

Faithful and Just God,
    We thank you for the opportunity to live
        as a vision of justice and hope.
    Allow our commitment to what is right encourage others to do the same.
    Give us the strength to step away from norms
        that hurt, degrade and oppress
        and guide us in discovering fresh and faithful ways of being in the world.
    Help us to be life givers and not life takers.
    Help us to build hope and purpose where there is none
        and to stay mindful that regardless of our status and circumstance
        we can be the catalyst for change in this world.
    Amen. (Prayerfully Out in Scripture).